Help for small businesses from the state: myth or reality? Grants for beginning entrepreneurs What is a grant and the basic principles of their distribution

21Apr

Hello! In this article we will talk about business grants.

Today you will learn:

1. What is a grant and how to get it;
2. What are the features of issuing grants?
3. What government programs to help businesses operate in the Russian Federation.

It is no secret that some large business projects were brought to life thanks to support provided from outside. Taking advantage of this opportunity requires serious effort. Today we’ll talk about how to act correctly in this direction.

What is a grant?

This is free assistance in cash or in kind, which is used for scientific research, education and other purposes.

Both organizations and individuals can receive this assistance. Ultimately, you need to account for the use of funds.

It is worth noting that the state is interested in sponsoring small and medium-sized businesses, since its presence is a counterbalance to large companies, which, if absent, become monopolists in the market, and therefore have a destructive effect on the state as a whole.

What role do subsidies play?

The use of a grant system supports projects that cannot initially be called profitable, but for society as a whole, a particular region, or a particular city, they play a truly important role. Not every activity is fully funded by the state; in such cases, support is provided in the form of grants.

Who can issue a business grant?

• Private foundations;
• State;
• Foreign organizations.

The requirements for the grant recipient are different in each case. Therefore, it simply doesn’t make sense to apply everywhere; it’s better to immediately choose a source that suits your type of activity and work to fulfill its conditions.

Now let’s move from the general to the specific, namely to grants to small and medium-sized businesses.

Legislative regulation

Issues of government assistance to small and medium-sized businesses are regulated by the Federal Law “On the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the Russian Federation.” In each region of the country there is a body that helps implement measures to help entrepreneurs.

Grants for start-up entrepreneurs

The dream of receiving a grant to start a business haunts almost every aspiring entrepreneur. But not everyone can apply for this, but only those citizens who are unemployed and registered with employment centers, or those who want to expand and increase the volume of an existing business.

State funds often issue grants to people who are just starting their journey as an entrepreneur.

In this case, preference will be given to the following categories:

• Citizens who fell under;
• Preferential categories (single mothers, persons with disabilities, and so on);
• Graduates of higher educational institutions;
• Citizens who are authors and owners of any innovative technologies;
• Citizens who use innovative equipment in their business;
• Taking part in various kinds of fairs and exhibitions.

In accordance with the law, those citizens who have reached the age of 18 and want to run their business in our state can receive a grant.

This assistance option can also be used by those who already have a certain amount of funds.

The state will compensate part of the costs in the amount of 500,000 rubles. Let's look at how to get such a grant step by step.

How to get a grant or subsidy

Step 1. Study the funds.

This also includes familiarizing yourself with the areas that are supported and studying the requirements for candidates.

You need to look for a suitable fund in your region of residence or in your city. The foundation can be public or private.

Step 2. Create a business plan.

Business support programs in Russia

Now we will consider several programs to support small and medium-sized businesses in the Russian Federation.

Support from the Skolkovo Foundation

They are provided in mini format (up to 5 million rubles) and in amounts up to 150 million rubles.

Companies operating in the following industries can apply:

• Related to space;
• Nuclear Research;
• Biomedicine;

To receive a grant, you need to prepare documentation.

It usually includes:

• The project itself;
• Presentation;
• Financial plan with its full justification;
• Estimate;
• Memorandum.

The application undergoes initial approval, then it is sent to the grant service, which verifies the veracity of the information received. After this, experts evaluate it using a ten-point system. If the score is higher than 5 points, the application is submitted to the grant committee for consideration. If the score is lower, the project is eliminated.

Ultimately, the committee makes a decision on the project by a simple majority vote. The commission consists of 12 to 14 people.

If the project is submitted to the committee for consideration, the chance of receiving a grant is high.

Grants from social VKontakte network

Most young people now know what social media is. VKontakte network. It is used to communicate with friends, work colleagues, and to find new friends. But few people know that this network operates a fund that sponsors start-up businessmen.

Note that grants are issued by Pavel Durov and businessman Evgeny Milner. And there are lucky ones who have become the owners of such support. The amount of the grant is not small, $25,000, and it is quite capable of becoming a help for a novice businessman.

Support from the Moscow Government

The grant amount is half a million rubles. A company that has been operating for no more than 2 years can apply for the receipt; there are also a number of restrictions on receipt.

A company that trades or sells tobacco and alcohol products will not receive a grant. Also, those whose activity is the gambling business cannot count on help.

To receive this subsidy, you need to apply to the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship. The application must indicate all the parameters of the project and outline the ways of its implementation. If the project is approved, the Department enters into an agreement with the winner within 15 days.

Grants from the Fund for Assistance to the Development of Small Innovative Enterprises in the Scientific and Technical Sphere

All the work of the fund is aimed at interaction with start-up companies in the Russian Federation. A candidate can apply for 1 million rubles or 200 thousand rubles every year for 2 years.

The fund usually supports small businesses whose activities are related to promising areas of the future. This can include the development of new materials, biotechnology, the creation of new instruments and apparatus, and so on.

The Foundation holds various events in large higher educational institutions and enterprises of the Russian Federation. The events also include holding a grant competition, the participants of which can be the authors of interesting and promising projects.

The application is reviewed by an expert commission, which decides whether to allocate a grant or not. Funds are not paid at once; they are divided into several parts.

Support for IT companies from Microsoft

This company is the most successful, and its creator is the wealthiest person in the world. The company supports talented aspiring businessmen in the IT field. The grant amount is 30 - 100 thousand dollars.

A distinctive feature of such support is that funds can only be allocated for the development or refinement of a project that already exists. These funds cannot be used for advertising and promotion of the project.

The mandatory requirements for the candidate are as follows: he must have a highly qualified team and use Microsoft technologies.

To receive support, a candidate must go through several stages and prove himself to be the best at each one.

At the first stage, you need to pass the selection process, according to the information provided in the application. It is necessary to characterize the project, talk about its positive aspects, and justify its benefits for society as a whole.

At the second stage, the candidate is interviewed by phone or Skype. Based on the results, a rating is compiled, and several projects will be allowed to defend before the selection committee.

Here, take into account an important point: the conversation takes place only in English, which means you need to speak it at the highest level.

At the third stage, a presentation is held in the office of the foundation itself. It should be meaningful, effective, and capable of interest. If it is successful, the project is approved and the grant is paid.

What to do with the funds received

The funds received as a grant can be characterized as a kind of agreement between an entrepreneur and an investor.

Therefore, the entrepreneur has certain obligations under this agreement that he must fulfill:

• All funds must be spent only in full accordance with the goals of the project;
• Reporting on the use of funds must be submitted within the time period specified in the contract;
• If any force majeure occurs, you must immediately contact the fund that issued the grant;
• The grant recipient cannot refuse to verify that funds are being spent correctly.

If the grant is not used for its intended purpose, or other terms of the agreement are not met, the fund may initiate its termination, as well as file a claim with the courts for the return of the allocated money.

Let us clarify that you must understand that receiving a grant is not the most difficult thing; you also need to fulfill the requirements of the fund that allocated it to you.

Conclusion

To receive a grant for your business, you need to stock up on time and patience. You will also need to develop a project and business plan, which will be considered by the commission. It's not an easy task, but all your efforts will be worth it.

Are you young and have decided to start your own business, but have no money? Or do you want to expand your business, but all cash flows end up in working capital and if the required amount is extracted from it, the solvency of the business will be shaken? The solution to this problem in 2018 could be grants for small business development.

Basic conditions for receiving a grant

This year, it is planned to allocate about 9.6 billion rubles from the Russian budget to support small and medium-sized businesses. It is worth noting that this amount is significantly lower than in previous years. Therefore, in order to become a happy owner of financial assistance, you will have to make even more efforts. At the same time, you need to remember that you will be personally responsible for the misuse of funds.

If you decide to try your luck and apply for a grant, be prepared that you will need to meet mandatory requirements to receive grant investment financial support.

The conditions for receiving and using a grant for small business development are as follows:

1. It is necessary to submit an application in which you indicate the goals and objectives of the activity.
2. It is necessary to indicate goals, objectives and the amount of additional financial investments. It should be taken into account that during the consideration of the project it will be impossible to adjust the business plan.
3. When applying for a grant for the first time, you should not go too far - indicate real numbers: ask for the minimum to make your business plan a reality.
4. Having an original project increases the chances of receiving funds by 50%.
5. Funds from the grant are received in tranches for each. And in some cases, goods are received instead of money.
6. Every penny of sponsorship funds must be spent in accordance with their intended purpose.
7. During the implementation of the project, it is necessary to provide correctly completed reports in a timely manner, in accordance with the schedule.
8. If a grant is awarded, you will need to pay income tax on the amount of funds received.

Required documents

Each participant in the financial assistance program must prepare a package of documents for a future project before submitting an application.

To receive a grant from the state, you must prepare and submit for consideration within a certain period of time:

• table of contents;
• summary;
• introduction;
• statement of the problem;
• goal and objective of the project;
• methods for solving assigned problems;
• risk assessment;
• budgeting amount;
• applications and add-ons.

Be sure to include a cover letter with your application explaining why your project is important and deserves support.

If you are applying for a grant from private foundations, including foreign ones, additional documents may be required. Their list is different in each case - it is compiled directly by the grant director.

Who can become the owner

When selecting participants in the small business support program, different criteria apply in different cases.

If funding is provided by a foreign fund, then the main thing for it is the full targeted use of funds in accordance with the approved business project. Therefore, as a rule, foreign sponsors are more willing to invest in business representatives who have previously received grants.

It is important for the state to ensure employment and social protection of the population. Therefore, every year local authorities determine priority economic sectors for their region. The state is most interested in the development of these industries, which means that it will be easier for entrepreneurs who have chosen the appropriate line of activity to receive a grant.

And if foreigners prefer to give money to experienced “players”, then the state gives preference to newcomers who need a confident start:

• university graduates;
• unemployed;
• those who were laid off;
• single mothers;
• disabled people;
• retired military man.

For what purposes is it allocated?

According to statistics, 30% of individual entrepreneurs who received a grant are involved in the service sector, 20% in production, and only 12% work in the trade sector.

It is easier to get a grant for renting premises, purchasing fixed and working capital (purchase of raw materials and materials), if the project is shared (part of the expected costs for the purchase of equipment is covered by the individual entrepreneur from his own funds, and the rest of the project is allocated by the investor).

Domestic funds, as a rule, refuse to allocate funds to pay salaries. Foreign sponsors have no objections to financing this expense item.

When providing a grant for the development of small businesses, there is a clear difference between state and foreign funds in determining the priority areas of activity for which funds are allocated.

If support is needed in the field of production, agriculture, natural sciences and education, the state will willingly allocate funds.

Private domestic funds are ready to finance innovations in the field of economics and business. If you want to engage in research in the field of ecology, economics, democracy, culture and society, then you should turn to foreign foundations for funds.

In terms of the number of grants provided, the leading business startup projects are:

• clearing companies;
• training courses;
• design bureau.

Where can I get it?

In 2018, many organizations are ready to provide grants for small business development.

The state represented by:

Private foundations, individual investors and large business philanthropists:

Skolkovo Foundation– allocates from 5 to 150 million rubles for scientific developments in the field of biomedicine, nuclear, space and energy efficient technologies. Grant applicants must:

Prepare a package of documents, which includes:

• memorandum;
• presentation;
• project roadmap;
• financial plan;
• estimate and justification of the project.

Submit an application to the cluster, which, if approved, will be sent to the grants service to verify the accuracy of the information provided. After this, the application will be reviewed by experts and assigned points from 1 to 10. If the score is higher than 5, it will go to the grant committee, where the decision to issue a grant is made by voting.

Foreign organizations:

Microsoft Seed Fund. Bill Gates is ready to give startups – young IT companies that develop software or information storage systems – up to $100,000. The main requirements of the fund are that the grant applicant has a team of professionals, participation in the Microsoft BizSpark program and the use of the latest Microsoft technologies (Windows Azure, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Kinect).

In order to receive this grant, you must submit an application and be included in the list of participants. After this, you will have a telephone/Skype interview, and then, if successful, you will be able to present your project in English to the members of the selection committee. The final stage will be a speech at the main office of the foundation.

Grants for small business development in Altai: Video

Instructions

First, find a fund in your region or city that supports small businesses. They provide grants for registering a business, obtaining the necessary licenses and certificates, renting premises, purchasing raw materials and starting production. As a rule, entrepreneurs engaged in financial activities, real estate transactions, rental of cars, equipment, production and sale of alcohol and tobacco, as well as gambling are not allowed to participate in such programs.

Next, draw up a detailed business plan for the development of your small business. Attach to it the documents required to participate in the competition. All submitted projects are subject to independent examination. The criteria by which they are evaluated are economic feasibility, scientific and technical novelty, and prospects for market sales of products.

To participate in the program, complete the training. Usually these are courses that are created by the foundation and take place in the form of seminars. A prerequisite for participation in such programs is the absence of debt to the budget of all levels, including tax obligations. The size of the grant may vary, as a rule, it does not exceed 300 thousand rubles and cannot be more than 70% of the amount required, according to the business plan, for business development.

Please note that the grand may not be issued in its entirety, but, that is, in parts. First, you will receive a certain amount for the first stage of your project. Only after a detailed report on its use can you count on the next tranche. And remember that most often money is allocated for the development of small businesses in agriculture, the service sector and the creation of consumer goods. The main thing is that you need to carefully study the potential sales market, and even better, a decent customer base has already been formed.

You can receive government support in the form of a subsidy for the development of small businesses in almost every region of the Russian Federation. The maximum amount of the allocated amount depends and the requirements for applicants depend on the specific subject of the Federation. Usually it is provided to enterprises and entrepreneurs whose state registration has passed no more than 1 or 2 years.

You will need

• - documents on state registration of an enterprise or individual entrepreneur;
• - confirmation of its compliance with the requirements for applicants for state support;
• - business plan.

Instructions

All conditions for the provision of state support must be found in your regional agency for business development. This information can be presented on its website or the website of the local (department) of economic development. The maximum subsidy amount in different regions ranges from 250 thousand to 400 thousand rubles.
Among the requirements for applicants there may be restrictions on the types of activities, the purposes for which the money will be spent (for example, for the purchase of fixed assets), whether the entrepreneur has previously been registered with the employment center, the completion of a course in the basics of entrepreneurship, the availability of own funds for financing, etc.

You should consult with them on writing a plan (it will be the basis for deciding whether to allocate state support to you, and the main criterion for the intended use of the funds received by you).
If possible, purchase a manual on how to create this document. Show the draft version to the agency consultant and listen carefully to the comments. Finalize the business plan and show it to agency employees until it is finally approved by them.
Submit the finished package to or directly to the economic development department or department, depending on the procedure adopted in your region.

The procedure for reviewing business plans also differs depending on the region. In some cases, it is enough to submit the document itself for analysis to the economic development department. In others, you will have to defend your project before the commission: give a presentation, demonstrate product samples if available, answer questions.

After a positive decision and receipt of money, do not forget that after a year you will have to account for every penny of the allocated funds. So you should not spend them on goals not specified in the business plan.

In recent years, the world economy has been very unstable. Under these conditions, it becomes very difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to survive in the market without support. It is even more difficult to start this business. But now everything has become easier, because the state is ready to help start-up entrepreneurs with subsidies. So how can you get a business development grant from the state and who can apply for it?

Instructions

An aspiring entrepreneur today receives a subsidy of 58,800 rubles to start a business. To do this, you need to register with the employment service at your place of residence and receive a document confirming your unemployed status. According to the law, this status is assigned to a person who has registered with the employment service and has not received a single job offer within ten days. After this, the unemployed person can receive benefits, but there is also the opportunity to receive an offer to open their own business and receive a grant.

After you have been assigned the status of unemployed, you will need to pass a psychological test for aptitude for. This is a very important stage, and as a result, very often a decision is made to reject the unemployed person’s request for a subsidy, so answer the questions as honestly and thoughtfully as possible. The employment service will also test your knowledge in the field of doing business, and if your knowledge is sufficient, you can proceed to writing a business plan. If knowledge is not enough, then you will be offered training at one of the educational institutions in the specialty "". This training will take from two weeks to a month.

After completing the training, you will need to move on to direct work on the business plan of your future company. The Employment Service will provide you with a business plan and tell you about the main details of its preparation. After this, you will need to defend it before a commission consisting of representatives of the mayor’s office and the employment service. If you adequately defend your business plan and can prove its viability and social significance, then, undoubtedly, you will be able to receive a subsidy for business development.

After receiving approval from the commission, you will proceed directly to the preparation of the necessary documents. The employment service will help you collect all the documents, help you complete them, and be sure to tell you about further actions. You will need to register as an individual entrepreneur, or open a legal entity, make seals and stamps. The state assumes the obligation to pay the state fee for opening a legal entity, but only through the method of compensation. That is, this money will be returned to you immediately after submitting invoices and receipts for payment of state duties and invoices for the production of stamps.

note

Within three months it will be necessary to report on the money spent to the commission. Keep all documents confirming that actual costs correspond to planned costs.

Helpful advice

You can double the grant size if you hire a person who also has unemployed status. A hired employee is entitled to a lump sum payment of 58,800.

Sources:

• what documents are needed for the scholarship?

Not many people know that in Russian legislation there is a decree according to which an unemployed person can receive an amount equal to the annual amount of the maximum unemployment benefit to start his own business. It is about 60 thousand rubles.

You will need

• -passport,
• -education document,
• - certificate of assignment of TIN,
• - pension insurance certificate,
• - business plan of the project

Instructions

To receive the required benefits, you must first register with the employment center as an unemployed person. Each district and city has its own territorial department of this institution. At the same time, full-time students cannot be classified as unemployed. But correspondence students can register with confidence.

Then you should consider whether you can handle it. Perhaps other options for government assistance, such as advanced training or professional retraining, are more suitable for some. Or, together with the employment service, you can try to find a job in another region. This way you will receive compensation for travel and rent for the first 3 months of work.

If you decide that your own business is what you need, feel free to write an application for financial assistance. But at the same time, you need to draw up a business plan. You shouldn't be afraid. This is not a multi-volume document at all, but just a form that takes up several printed sheets.

The next stage is the defense of the compiled business plan. This procedure is similar to an exam. Before him, the future entrepreneur is sent to him so that he can characterize his personality and evaluate his ability to run his own business. Then the business plan is defended, which is attended by representatives of the employment center, city hall, and local entrepreneurs. They are the adequacy and realism of the project.

Once the project is approved, all that remains is to register your business. In this case, you will have to shell out your own money for registration. This is about 2 thousand rubles if you plan to become an individual entrepreneur, and about 10 thousand if you want to open a limited liability company. A subsidy from the state can be spent on purchasing raw materials, tools, supplies, equipment, as well as renting premises, but for no more than 3 months.

Now you can get to work. It should be remembered that reporting to the tax office in the first year will need to be submitted to the employment center. During this period, you are not required to make a profit, the main thing is to show that you are working. If your activity lasts less than a year, the subsidy will have to be returned. By the way, you need to report for budget money within 2 months from the date of receipt.

Video on the topic

Many people who want to open their own business cannot do so due to lack of funds. In this case, you can take advantage of the help of the state, which since 2009 has been actively supporting the development of small businesses. Receiving a subsidy from the state is quite simple, you just need to know what is required.

You will need

• -passport;
• -employment history;
• - insurance certificate of pension insurance;
• -education document;
• -certificate 2-NDFL from the last place of work;
• -a bank account opened in your name.

Instructions

Register with Population Services. The state can only provide subsidies to officially citizens. To do this, you must reach the age of eighteen and have a work book with a record and seal about it, and the reason for dismissal and the time that has passed since its moment are absolutely not important. The latter will only affect the amount of the monthly benefit that you will receive after registering with the employment center (CNC). If you have not worked anywhere before and do not have a work book, then you also have the right to participate in the state program for obtaining a business license.
To register, you will need to provide a package of documents to the Central Scientific Research Center.

Notify the employment service that you want to take part in the state program to receive a subsidy. No one has the right to refuse you, except if you have already received financial support from the state to open your business.

Decide on the type of activity you want to do. Please note that each region has its own restrictions and the government does not fund all activities. It is especially easy to get a business related to livestock farming, poultry farming, crop production and the provision of various household services.

Make a business plan. It consists of 6 sections:

• information data;


• essence of the project;


• production and sales plan;


• justification of the project cost;


• calculation of the cost of products/services, sales prices;


• justification of the viability of the project.

Business plan forms will be given to you at the Central Scientific Research Center.

Some people believe that starting your own business requires a large start-up capital. In some cases this is true. But even without savings you can start doing business. The main thing is that you have an idea and desire. Take advantage of various government programs that allow you to start your own business without any investment. There are many ways to do this: small business assistance program from the employment center , various grants and funds.

Types of assistance from the state

Entrepreneurs think that only troubles can be expected from the state - tax audits, changes in working conditions and various requirements.

You don’t have to have start-up capital to start your own business - you can just get help

Few people know that you can get real help from the government, especially if you get into regional and federal small business support programs that are regularly launched throughout the country.

Help from the state may be as follows:

• consulting and information (various free courses, seminars, training programs);
• organizational (providing an equipped place at a market or fair);
• infrastructure (numerous funds supporting start-up entrepreneurs, business incubators and centers);
• innovative (if you have some kind of scientific development or idea, the state can sponsor its implementation);
• financial (providing various compensations, preferential loans, grants, subsidies).
• permitting (an entrepreneur is allowed to conduct a business in a simplified manner without detailed accounting support, obtaining expensive licenses, etc.).

Most often, novice businessmen focus specifically on financial assistance. But it should be understood thatare limited, and you may simply not get them due to great competition. Therefore, you must prepare a really interesting idea and draw up a proper business plan for it in order to beat your future colleagues.

Note:Don’t focus only on financial assistance - other types can bring you much more benefits. For example, permitting assistance may completely exempt you from taxes and audits.

Receiving free assistance

Getting a loan from the state is not that difficult, even on preferential terms. The only disadvantage of the loan is that it will have to be repaid (either in small installments every month or at the end of the term). Therefore, you should look for opportunities to receive various grants and other free assistance.

There is no need to give a business grant - the main thing is to fulfill the conditions for receiving it

It will not need to be given back if you fulfill your obligations and spend the money exactly on what you intended (targeted spending of funds). Free assistance is as follows:

1. Grants. Usually issued from the local or regional budget to beginning or young entrepreneurs. The intended purpose is the implementation of the approved business plan. Usually the amount does not exceed 300 thousand rubles, and the businessman must pay up to 50% of the total amount himself. That is, half of the expenses will be paid by the state, half by you.
2. Subsidies. They are usually issued to experienced businessmen who want to develop further and provide new jobs. The subsidy is issued for the purchase of assets and equipment: it can reach up to 90% of their value. The maximum subsidy amount is 10 million rubles, but it may vary depending on the region of the Russian Federation.
3. Grant for the unemployed. It is understood that a person who has lost his job and has unemployed status can immediately receive all insurance compensation and payments for the year from the employment center. In return, he guarantees to ensure self-employment by opening his own business. It is noteworthy that you can receive this payment for each unemployed person hired into an official job. The amount of payments currently amounts to 58 thousand rubles.
4. Repayment of interest on the loan. Typically, the body of the loan received for the purchase of equipment is repaid by the entrepreneur himself, and the state pays half or ¾ of the accrued interest.
5. Another relevant one assistance to small businesses from the state in 2016 - 2017 - This means receiving a subsidy for participation in the fair. Typically, the budget compensates the entrepreneur for ½ or ⅔ of the funds spent on renting or delivering commercial equipment. In some cases, the state simply equips trading places itself and invites entrepreneurs to them. The amount of compensation cannot exceed 300,000 rubles.

Farmers can receive additional assistance: they are given preferential loans for the purchase of seeds, breeding stock, equipment, and infrastructure.

Help from banks

Many banks also offer assistance to budding entrepreneurs. It is much easier to get loans from them than from the state, especially in small towns. The business itself or the entrepreneur's real estate is usually used as collateral for the loan.

You can receive all payments at the employment center for a whole year and open a business

State support for small businesses is an important area of ​​economic policy: today there are more than 5.5 million small and medium-sized businesses operating in Russia, which account for 21% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. It is planned that by 2030 the share of small and medium-sized businesses in the Russian Federation’s GDP will reach 45%. That is why diverse government support for small businesses has entered its active phase. About what types of business assistance exist in our country, what subsidies entrepreneurs in Moscow and regions of Russia can count on - in our next material.

State small business support program 2016: financing issues

Let's start with the not so good news: federal subsidies for programs to support small and medium-sized businesses for 2016 are being significantly reduced. According to preliminary information from the Ministry of Economic Development of our country, only 11 billion rubles will be allocated for the entire program next year, while in 2014 this amount was more than 20 billion, and in 2015 – almost 17 billion rubles. These funds will be divided among all constituent entities of Russia on the basis of competitive procedures. Due to a noticeable reduction in support, the regions of the country will have to independently determine the priority areas of business activity for financing. In other words, public funds will go to truly important areas of the economy: agriculture, trade, provision of utilities and household services, social entrepreneurship, innovation activities and others.

But, meanwhile, in our country, every small and medium-sized business has the right to count on comprehensive support from the state - this is regulated by various regulations and, first of all, Federal Law No. 209-FZ. Different programs have their own validity period, terms of provision and budget. In each region of our country, the relevant authorized body is responsible for the implementation of state support measures for small businesses. You can find a complete list of them on the website of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

Small business development in 2016: subsidies, programs, grants

There are different forms of support for small businesses, in addition to financing, cash subsidies or grants. This, for example, provides training and internship programs for aspiring entrepreneurs, accounting and legal services for small and medium-sized businesses on free terms, preferential rental of premises and many others. Small businesses in our country are supported under certain programs by both government and non-government organizations. But every entrepreneur has the right to take advantage of free help. For example, the opening of a business in 2015 in the regions is helped by funds for supporting small and medium-sized businesses (state or municipal), employment services, investment and guarantee funds, business schools, technology parks and other institutions. Let's briefly look at some of the forms of support that these organizations provide.

• Grants for small business development 2015-2016. This measure of state support is provided, as a rule, by regional authorities. Priority is given to aspiring businessmen from among the disabled, the unemployed, young people, large families and other social categories. The conditions for receiving grants in each region may be different; specially created commissions review applications, but there are conditions for receiving money. This is a sufficient number of jobs, the amount of revenue, mandatory registration of an enterprise, a certain field of activity of a small or medium-sized business and other aspects. Such support for small businesses 2015 is currently very popular among entrepreneurs: the amount of cash grants can reach 300 thousand rubles.
• Guarantee funds to support small businesses. As part of small business support programs, Guarantee Funds help entrepreneurs obtain bank loans. They provide guarantees for various types of contracts. The guarantee fund funds, as a rule, are generated from the federal and regional budgets. In each subject of the country, guarantee funds are issued under certain conditions and if the borrower meets a number of requirements.
• Regional Venture Funds support the most promising projects. The purpose of the work of regional venture funds – this is the selection and financing of innovative or the most promising business projects in the scientific and technical field (startups). Funds for the development of venture funds are allocated from the federal and regional budgets, the rest of the money comes from investments from private investors. Often, financing from venture funds is carried out upon the transfer of a share of the authorized capital of your company, but there may be other conditions for providing this type of government support.
• Help for entrepreneurs from multifunctional centers. This type of free government support for business will start in Russia next year. At the MFC you will be able to get advice on subsidies for business, prepare all the necessary documentation, and resolve legal, financial and other issues with competent specialists.
• Opportunities of business incubators for businesses. The so-called “Business incubators” also support businesses, especially innovative projects. . Entrepreneurs, especially start-ups, can receive financial assistance here, find premises for work (on preferential terms), advice on various fields of activity and many other types of services.
• Business schools to help small businesses. No less powerful support for new small businesses is provided by “Business Schools”, most of which are state-owned and free (for example, on the basis of Employment Centers). Here, those who want to start their own business are taught the basics of doing business, the secrets of marketing and promotion. Training takes place in the form of lectures and seminars, and at the end, students defend their business plans in front of experts. As a rule, the best projects are subsequently provided with government financial support or investments are made in them.
• Subsidies are a popular type of government support. The most popular type of government support for small and medium-sized businesses in our country among beginning entrepreneurs is receiving subsidies. We will consider which enterprises and what types of subsidies can apply for in the next section.

Subsidizing small businesses in Moscow and the regions in 2016

Municipal and state funds for supporting small and medium-sized businesses currently operate in almost all Russian regions of the country. Their goal is to conduct an examination of entrepreneurial projects, finance and support the most promising of them. Let's consider the options and conditions for providing subsidies using the example of the Russian capital. Of course, Moscow entrepreneurs can count on financial assistance from a number of organizations - support for small businesses in Moscow is implemented to the maximum. For these purposes, in 2012, the State Budgetary Institution “Moscow Small Business” was created here, providing businesses with a number of subsidies. Moscow entrepreneurs can apply for funds in the amount of up to 5 million rubles. To do this, you need to contact the institution for advice, then fill out a number of documents. A prerequisite for receiving subsidies from the state to start a business is that all entrepreneurs must report on the use of the funds received within the prescribed period.

Note
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In general, it should be noted that support for small businesses in Moscow in 2015 is especially relevant: we all know that business is now going through difficult times. The consumer market in both Moscow and the regions is significantly narrowing, and the planning of company activities is complicated by the instability of the economic situation in the country. The presence of a large number of types of subsidies for opening small businesses in Moscow in 2015 does not mean that developing a business in the capital is the easiest. This is also increasing competition, especially since each type of subsidy for small businesses is provided under different conditions. Let's look at some of them.

Subsidies for starting a small business 2016

The amount is up to 500 thousand rubles, provided from the capital’s budget. Funds can be used to equip company premises and workplaces, purchase software or other fixed assets for the operation of the enterprise. Also, according to the conditions for issuing funds, the money can be used to rent an office in Moscow, purchase raw materials or materials, but the purchase amount should not exceed 20% of the total amount of the requested subsidy. A prerequisite for receiving this type of state support for small businesses in Moscow is that no more than two years must have passed since the registration of the enterprise, no more than 250 people must work in the company, and the legal entity must be registered with the tax authorities and have no tax arrears, fees and other obligatory payments.

Subsidies for loan interest reimbursement

Subsidy to reimburse part of the costs of leasing payments

This support for small businesses in Moscow is certainly in demand: the amount of this type of subsidy reaches 5 million rubles, and funds are issued subject to a financial lease agreement valid no earlier than 2013–2014. The targeted use of funds for the development of small businesses in Moscow must also be confirmed by the entrepreneur in a few months. To do this, you will need to provide the appropriate documentation.

You can learn more about the procedure for receiving subsidies for opening a small business in the capital in 2016 on the website of the State Budgetary Institution “Small Business of Moscow” or by personally contacting this organization. Relevant authorized bodies operate in every region of our country - they also provide various types of subsidies for starting small businesses.